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Providing
Affordable Education

The Challenge of Affording College

Much of Catholic Higher Education is built on an unsustainable financial model.

  • The tuition is too high, but for those with very high incomes.

    • Average tuition discounts of more than 50% are clear indicators of this.

  • Even with discounts, families must borrow heavily to afford college.

    • Evidence indicates that the average family can afford something between $10,000-$13,000/year.*

    • Families must borrow the difference between their net (discounted) cost and what they can afford.

    • The result is that the average student loan debt now approaches $30,000.

  • The model requires

    • Ever-increasing tuition, with ever-increasing tuition discounts;

    • Ever-expanding development;

    • Ever-expanding enrollments.

 

The Solution

The Collegium has developed a model, rethinking higher education from the ground up with a view toward long-term sustainability.

  • Lower tuition up front (little or no discounting)

  • Supporting revenue from auxiliary enterprise(s)

    • Students participate in these as part of a Benedictine model of ora et labora

  • Keeping facility and faculty needs limited:

    • Small student body (maximum of 120)

    • Singular liberal arts focus.

  • Faculty and staff hired within a framework of sacrificial work.  Administrative overhead kept to a minimum; all administrators also teach.  Salaries will be adequate; housing may be part of compensation.

  • Gifts from benefactors committed to the mission and vision of The Collegium.

​* See How America Pays for College, at https://www.salliemae.com/plan-for-college/how-america-pays-for-college/.

 

 

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